FIRES is the brand new project from Karima Francis. Featuring the same beautiful voice and affecting lyrics, along with a driving Rock and Psyche sound, FIRES have been impressing at every opportunity in their brief existence, with all new material this is a show not to be missed.
This Blackpool-born extraordinary singer-songwriter burst onto the scene in 2009. Karima Francis, hailing from the bright lights of Blackpool was named as The Observer’s ‘Number One Act To Watch’ following the release of her critically acclaimed debut album The Author. After being scouted at Manchester’s ‘In The City’ event in 2009, The Author was released on KitchenWare/Columbia Records and produced by renowned producer Ken Nelson (producer for Coldplay) alongside Bacon and Quarmby.
Emotionally charged and beautifully haunting, single ‘Again’ went to number one in the iTunes Single of the Week chart which elevated Karima onto our television screens with a staggering performance of ‘Francis’ on Later…with Jools Holland.
Following a break from the industry after becoming unwell, Karima returned in 2011 with powerful and personal follow up album The Remedy released by Vertigo Records of the Mercury Music Group. The album was a fresh start, a renewal and a memoir of how music saved her and how music is the force that drives her every waking moment. “The album is a document about her return to what she knows, and loves, best: music, singing, lyrics that burrow beneath the skin and lodge in the heart, melodies that are equally impossible to dislodge.” Dan Cairns
The Remedy allowed Karima to transmit her poignant live shows onto record with legendary producer Flood (U2 Nine in Smashing Pumpkins Producer) pushing the tracks to another level; grand and emotionally compelling. From the orchestral highs of ‘Days Like These’ to the adorned vulnerability of ‘Good, Bad and Ugly’ the album pulled a fan-base of all manner of ages and from around the world. Her soulful tone is unmistakeable and has led to comparisons with the likes of Joan Armatrading Jeff Buckely and Ray LaMontagne.
Over the past few years Karima has supported one of her childhood idols and influences Paul Simon in Hyde Park, as well as touring with Seal, James Morrison, Newton Faulkner, Patti Smith Skunk Anansie and the late, great Amy Winehouse. Most recently she has toured with Luke Sital-Singh.
“Her songs, in her voice, could melt the hardest of hearts” The Independent
